Vibratory concrete laying and finishing machine



July 29, 1941. c. w. WOOD 2,251,095

VIBRATORY CONCRETE LAYING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1939. 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

c. w. woon 2,251,095

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, I939 VIBRATORY CONCRETE LAYING AND FINISHING MACHINE July 29, 1941.

C. W. WOOD July 29, 1941.

VIBRATORY CONCRETE LAYING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet s R =0 & w w m aw G [W n m a g m no 3 10 I a v. h M .RN I I! by In \I... n v I? u July 29, 1941.

c. w. WOOD VIBRATORY CONCRETE LAYING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1959' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O rm ATTORNEY.

Patented July 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATORY CONCRETE LAYING AND FINISHING MACHINE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vibratory concrete laying and finishing machine which is especially intended for laying, compacting and finishing concrete, asphalt and similar plastic or semiplastic materials.

In the building of highways, and particularly when considering the last or final operation, to wit, that of applying the surfacing material, such as concrete, asphalt and the like, rapid placing, thorough compacting, and surfacing or finishing of the material is essential. Several different types of concrete laying and finishing machines have been used for this purpose, but they have not been entirely satisfactory. Some machines, for instance, will be defective in failing to distribute the concrete properly and uniformly over the entire surface; others fail to compact the material to a sumcient degree; and others again do not properly trowel or finish the surface, etc. Also, highways vary in width, and it is difiicult to adjust or adapt the machines to the varying widths encountered.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of machines of the character described; to provide a machine which may be readily adjusted to highways of varying widths; to provide a machine in which uniform distribution and application of concrete and similar materials is insured; to provide a vibratory mechanism whereby the concrete or similar material to be applied may be thoroughly compacted; and further, to provide a weighted shoe whereby pressure is applied to further compact the material and finish the surface thereof.

The machine forming the subject matter of this invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main frame of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the secondary frame together with the hopper and finishing shoe carried thereby;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable end sections of the hopper;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central vertical longituclinal section of one end of the vibratory tube;

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the rubber plates 55 and the washers 58 whereby the vibrating tube is clamped and secured against endwise movement, said view being partially in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1., A indicates in general a main frame consisting of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending beams 2 and 3, which are tied together and maintained parellel by a suitable number of cross beams such as indicated at 4, 5 and 6. Welded or similarly secured to the front and rear ends of the beams are pairs of spaced plates 1 and 8 which form frames hereinafter to be referred to as the wheel-supporting frames. Carried by these frames are bearing members 9, in which are journaled axles ID, on each of which is secured a double-flanged track wheel II and a driving sprocket |2. Secured to the crossbeams 5 and 6 are a pair of longitudinally extending beams l4, and supported on said beams is an engine l5 of any suitable type, from which power is derived to propel the frame along the trackway, and for other purposes as will hereinafter be described.

The wheel-supporting frames are arranged in pairs, there being two at the rear of the main frame and two at the front. Pivotally secured as at H; to the inner side of each of the rear wheel-supporting frames is a hydraulic jack IT. The piston rod 8 of each jack is connected as at 9 to a lever 20 pivoted on each wheel-supporting frame, and these in turn carry suspension links 2|. A hydraulic jack 22 is similarly pivotally secured, as at 23, to the inner side of each of the front wheel-supporting frames, and the piston rods thereof are connected with pivoted arms 24.

Supported by the arms 24 and by the links 2| is a secondary frame generally indicated at B, which, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a pair of side plates 25, a front beam 26, and a rear beam 21. The rear beam is provided with a series of holes 28 at each end to permit the lower ends of the links 2| to be bolted thereto, or in other words to permit the rear end of the secondary frame to be attached to and hung from the lower ends of the suspension links 2|. A plurality of spaced angle brackets 29 are secured to each end of the front beam 26 of the secondary frame, and by passing bolts through one pair or another of these brackets and the rear ends of the pivoted arms 24, the forward end of the secondary frame will be suspended or supported with relation to the main frame. A pump and pipes for supplying oil under pressure to operate the hydraulic jacks,

together with valves for controlling the flow of the same, will permit raising or lowering of the secondary frame with relation to the main frame, but as such mechanism is common and well known, illustration thereof is thought unnecessary.

The secondary frame carries three important elements: First, a hopper C to receive and distribute the concrete or other material to be laid; second, a vibrating tube D to compact the material as it is being laid; and third, a shoe or plate 3|] to smooth and finish the compacted material. The last named plate forms a bottom for the major portion of the secondary frame. It extends from one side plate 25 to the other, and is secured to these plates by welding or the like, and it is also secured to the rear beam 21 and intermediate reinforcing beams 3|, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5.

Just in front of the finishing shoe is the hopper C. The lower portion thereof consists of vertically disposed, but slightly converging, plates 32 and 33 which are secured between the side plates 25 of the secondary frame. Above the plates 32 and 33, or forming a continuation thereof, are two plates 34 and 35, which are inclined in an opposite direction from the plates 32 and 33, to form a V-shaped trough 36 for the reception of the concrete. The plates 34 and 35 are shorter than the plates 32 and 33, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, but extensible ends generally indicated at E are provided to lengthen or shorten the hopper as a whole. That is, an average highway usually has two or more lanes to carry traffic traveling in opposite directions. One lane or strip of concrete is usually poured first, and when this is set and thoroughly hardened the second lane is poured. These lanes vary in width, for instance one highway may have two lanes nine feet wide, making a total width of eighteen feet; other highways may have lanes ten or eleven feet wide, making total widths of twenty to twenty-two feet; and so on. The present machine, by way of illustration, is designed to take care of lanes of three different widths, for instance, nine, ten and eleven feet, and it is for this reason that the hopper is provided with the adjustable ends E.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable ends. From this it will be seen that the adjustable end consists of two plates 33a and 34a, which are adapted to fit within and conform to the angle of the hopper plates 34 and 35. One end plate 38 ties the plates 33a and 34a together, and this end plate is provided with a detachable extension 38a, which slidably fits between the plates 3| and 32 forming the lower portion of the hopper. The plate 38a forms an adjustable end closure therefor, while the plate 38 forms an adjustable end for the upper portion of the hopper, or in other words the plates 34 and 35. One position of the adjustable end is shown in Fig. 5. In this view, and also in Fig. 6, it will be noted that the plates 33a and 34a are provided with three rows of drilled holes, as indicated at 39, 40 and 4|, and that the ends of the hopper plates 34 and 35 are provided with a single row 42 of drilled holes. If the lane or strip of concrete to be poured is ten feet wide, the end sections of the hopper will be moved to a position where the row of holes indicated at 40 will register with the row of holes 42. If a nine-foot lane or strip is to be poured, rows 39 and 42 will register, and if the widest, or eleven-foot, lane is to be poured, rows 40 and 4| will register, it being of course understood that whatever position the adjustable ends assume, they will be rigidly secured by bolting through the rows of registering holes.

When a strip of concrete is to be poured, common practice is to place heavy wooden timbers on each side of the strip, to confine spreading and to insure uniformity in width. Two-by-six timbers or the like, such as indicated at F, are usually placed on each side, and in this instance they perform another function, to wit, that of forming a trackway for the wheels l upon which the main frame is supported. Inasmuch as the spacing of the timbers F determines the width of the strip of concrete to be poured, it is obvious that if the flanged wheels H are to ride thereon they must be adjusted to take care of the varying widths of strips or lanes to be poured. To accomplish this, three rows of holes such as indicated at 45, 46, and 41 are drilled in each end of each of the cross-beams shown at 4, 5 and 6. When the narrow or nine-foot strip of concrete is to be poured, the timbers F forming the outer boundaries of the strip will be placed nine feet apart. In that instance the crossbeams 4, 5 and 6 will be bolted to the longitudinally extending beams 2 and 3 by passing bolts through the innermost row of holes, indicated at 45. If the next width of lane is to be poured, to wit, a ten-foot strip, then the timbers F will be spaced ten feet apart and the cross-beams will be secured to the longitudinal beams 2 and 3 by passing bolts through the rows of holes indicated at 46; and when the widest or eleven-foot width is to be poured, the bolts will be passed through the row of holes indicated at 41. Thus it is seen how the main frame is adjusted to take care of highway lanes of varying widths. This change in width of the main frame necessitates a change in the hook-up between the arms 24 and links 2| and the secondary frame, and it is for this reason that the rear end of the secondary frame or beam 21 has rows of holes 28 formed at each end, and it is for the same reason that the angle brackets 29 are spaced apart and arranged at each end of the forward beam 26 of the secondary frame. That is, as the main frames 2 and 3 are spread, the suspension links and pivoted arms 24 will be moved outwardly and connected with the aligning angle brackets and holes 28. While only three adjustments have been mentioned, any number of adjustments that will be practical can obviously be made.

The vibrating tube D whereby the concrete or similar material to be laid is compacted while it is being laid is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, '7 and 8. In principle of construction and operation it is similar to vibrating tubes that have been employed for a similar purpose; that is, it consists of an outer tube 50, interior of which is centrally positioned a driven shaft 5|, said shaft being upported in bearings 52 concentrically positioned between the shaft and the interior of the tube 50. Mounted on the shaft at suitable intervals, and between the bearings, are eccentrically positioned weights 53. These weights are all mounted in alignment; hence when rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft 5| the eccentric weights will impart a vibratory movement. This structure and principle, as previously stated, is old, but the manner in which the vibrating tube is supported, and the position assumed with relation to the concrete to be compacted, is believed to be new. In describing the above mentioned features it should be stated that the lower walls 32 and 33 of the hopper extend completely from one side plate 25 to the other, and that said side plates form permanent end closures therefor. One of these plates is clearly shown in Fig. 7. Both of the end plates 25 are provided with an opening 25a, which is closed by a comparatively thick plate of rubber such as indicated at 55, this rubber being clamped at its outer peripheral edge and secured in position by bolts 56. Each rubber plate 55 is provided with an opening 51 through which the outer ends of the vibrating tube extend, but the tubes are clamped with relation to the rubber plates 55 by washers 58 and bolts 59 extending therethrough. These washers are wedge-shaped in cross section, being heaviest at their outer peripheral edge and thinnest at their inner edge. When they are drawn together by the bolts 59, they compress the rubber around the tube 50 and grip it securely, thereby securing the tube against endvvise movement with relation to the permanent end plates 25 of the hopper. That is the only function performed by the washers 53 They themselves are carried by the rubber plates 55, and so is the tube hence the washers, together with the tube, have a resilient support, to wit the plates 55, and these plates permit vibrations of considerable magnitude to be imparted, the actual magnitude of movement of the tube 50 depending upon the work encountered and the degree of compacting desired. For instance, an eighth of an inch of movement in any radial direction is not unusual, and has been found very efiicient in compacting the concrete.

The adjustable end sections E shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are, as previously stated, provided with extension ends 38a, and as these snugly or slidingly fit between the lower plates 32 and 33 of the hopper, similar resilent bearings Will be necessary in these plates, as the vibrating tube 50 extends from end to end of the hopper and through the side plates 25. In other words, the tube 50 must pass through the end plates 38a, and they are accordingly provided with openings 381) through which the tube extends, this opening being closed by rubber plates 60, and the rubber being maintained in snug engagement with the tube through washers 6|, as previously described. These plates 38, by the way, may be vertically disposed, but are preferably placed on a slight angle, as shown in Fig. '7, and will under normal operating conditions rest on and ride upon the side rails F, thereby forming a packing or tight joint between the adjustable ends 38a of the hopper and the rails F, to prevent any escape of concrete between the ends of the hopper and the confining side rails F. Intermediate bearings of the same type as those employed in the end plates 25 may be used, and these are indicated at 25a (see Fig. 4). They are only required when the tube 59 is of considerable length, and as such may or may not be employed.

In actual operation the machine as a whole will be propelled at a low speed along the supporting rails F in the direction of arrow (1 (see Fig. 3). Power to drive the machine is derived from the motor l5, and power is also derived from this motor to drive the shaft 5| and the eccentric weights 53 mounted thereon. The foreword progress of a machine of this character is obviously very slow, and it is accordingly necessary to provide a considerable gear reduction before power is finally transmitted to the wheels II. This is accomplished as follows:

The motor (see Fig. 3) is provided with a clutch and gear transmission housing 65 through which power is transmitted to a shaft 66, on

which is secured a sprocket gear 67. Disposed below the engine is a differential gear housing 68, to which is secured a propeller shaft tube 69. Journaled in the tube in the usual manner is a propeller shaft 10, on the forward end of which is secured a sprocket gear A chain 12 connects the sprockets 61 and H, and power is thus transmitted from the engine to the propeller shaft; this in turn transmits power through the usual differential gears to a pair of driving axles, on the outer end of each of which is secured a universal coupling 73 (see Fig. 2). These couplings drive internally splined tubes 14 carrying telescoping shafts 15, and these, through universal couplings (6, drive shafts journaled in the rear wheel-supporting frames. Secured on each shaft 7'! are two sprocket gears 18 and 19. The sprocket 18 carries downwardly extending chains which pass over the sprocket gears |2 secured on the rear driving wheel shafts l0, while the sprockets 19 drive chains 8| which are carried forward along the beams 2 and 3 and pass over sprocket gears 82, which are secured on shafts 83 journaled in the upper part of the front wheel-supporting frames (see Figs. 3 and 4) The shafts 83 carry a second set of sprocket gears 84, and these, through chains 85 which pass over the sprocket gears 2 secured on the front wheel-driving axles l0, drive the front wheels. Thus power is transmitted both to the front and to the rear flanged wheels II, and the machine as a whole will be propelled along the supporting rails F. The speed at which the machine is propelled will depend upon the character of the work to be done, and is controlled by the reduction gears in the transmission 65.

Power to drive the vibrating tube on shaft 5| is taken from the front end of the engine shaft by a belt 86 which drives a shaft mounted in a side bracket 81 mounted on the frame or engine. This shaft drives a flexible shaft 88, which in turn drives a shaft 89 journaled in a bearing 90 secured at one side of the secondary frame. This shaft in turn transmits power through a belt drive 9| to shaft 5|, and this, as previously stated, carries the eccentric weights 53 whereby the vibrating movement is produced and transmitted to tube 50. The direction of rotation is preferably in the direction of arrow 5 (see Fig. 3), to prevent rocks, or in other words large aggregates, from wedging themselves between the tube 50 and the rear wall 33 of the hopper. The vibrating tube, by the way, is placed close to the rear wall of the hopper and as low as possible, so that the impact obtained by the vibrating tube will be exerted mainly to compact the material deposited by the hopper on the roadbed, the final compacting and finishing of the deposited con crete being obtained by the shoe 3!], as a certain amount of vibratory movement is transmitted thereto. Besides that, the shoe exerts a considerable downward pressure on the concrete, as it consists of a thick, heavy steel plate, on top of which may be piled additional weight in the form of pig-iron bars, sandbags, or the like. Another factor which aids in compacting the material is the rounded nose edge formed at the lower end of plate 33, as this functions as a wedge to force the concrete down and under,

the finishing shoe. Suflice it to say that the compacting of the deposited concrete is obtained not only by imparting vibration thereto, butalso by Wedge action and pressure.

The machine otherwise is exceedingly simple both in construction and operation, and is readily adjustable to take care of highway lanes of varying width; also, while certain other features of the invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that changes in materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as experience and the judgment of the manufacturer may dictate,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a machine of the character described a hoppewr the reception of concrete and having a discharge-opening at its lower end for distribution and deposition of concrete, an end wall at each end of the hopper, each wall having an opening formed therein, a tube extending through the hopper and the openings formed in the end walls, a rubber plate secured at its peripheral edge to each end wall, each plate having an opening formed therein concentric with the first named opening, said openings in the rubber plates receiving and supporting the tube and said rubber plates forming a resilient support for the tube, and a power driven vibratory element within the tube.

2. In a machine of the character described a hopper for the-reception of concrete and having a discharge opening at its lower end for distribution and deposition of concrete, an end wall at each end of the hopper, each wall having an opening formed therein, a tube extending through the hopper and the openings formed in the end walls, a rubber plate secured at its peripheral edge to each end wall, each plate, having an opening formed therein concentric with the first named opening, said openings in the rubber plates receiving and supporting the tube and said rubber plates forming a resilient support for the tube, a washer on each side of each rubber plate and surrounding the tube, bolts extending through the rubber plates and the washers to force the washers against the opposite faces of the rubber plates, to compress the rubber adjacent the tube to grip and secure the tube against endwise movement in the rubber plates, a shaft journaled in the tube and extending substantially from end to end thereof, and unbalanced Weights secured to the shaft to transmit a vibratory movement to the tube when the shaft is rotated.

3. In a portable machine of the character described, a hopper having an upper open end for the receptionof concrete and a discharge opening at its lower end for the distribution and deposition of concrete, said opening being confined between a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of end walls and said end walls having aligned openings formed therein, a rubber plate secured at its peripheral edge to each end wall and covering the openings in the end walls, each rubber plate having an opening formed therein substantially concentric to the openings in the end walls, a tube extending through the hopper, the rubber plates, and the openings in the end walls, said tube being resiliently supported by the rubber plates and being positioned close to and at the lower end of the rear wall, a vibratory rotary element within the tube, and means for rotating said element in the direction of travel of the portable machine.

CLYDE W. WOOD. 

